Helping Your Child Learn Responsible Behavior - continued

Share a Story

One important way parents can help their children learn respect for others, self-control, or other aspects of responsibility is through the use of fables or stories. You can read to your child, you can read with your child, and you can encourage your child to read on his own.

What you'll need.

Good stories, either from books such as those listed in the back of this book or from your own experiences

What to do.

1. Turn off the TV or other distractions.
2. Find stories that exemplify important aspects of character and that your child might enjoy.
3. Talk to your child about the behavior of different characters in the story. Ask your child how some of the behavior might apply to your own lives.
4. Share some stories or books that you have found meaningful with your child. (It is important for your child to see you reading and enjoying stories as well.)
5. Come up with your own stories. These can be family stories, such as baby stories (when your child was little...) that can become a part of your child's personal history.

Stories can be good ways to learn important lessons. Your child can identify with characters in meaningful situations without your having to lecture.